Judge Gives George Zimmerman New One Million Dollar Bond

Seminole County judge Kenneth Lester Jr. has granted bail to George Zimmerman in the amount of $1 million. Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney, reported last week during the bond hearing that Mr. Zimmerman had over $200,000 in his legal defense fund, enough to cover the 10 percent that is needed for his bail. If that is the case, Zimmerman should be able to bond out of prison fairly soon.

One provision in Zimmerman’s bond is that he can’t have a bank account, or open a new one, must wear a GPS monitor and abide by a 6am to 6pm curfew.

In his ruling, Judge Lester said:

“His [Zimmerman] lack of candor wasn’t limited to representation made by the Court and It appears to this court that the defendant is manipulating the system to his own benefit.”

Lester went on to say that it was “entirely reasonable” to believe that were it not for electronic monitor, Zimmerman would have fled with $130K of other people’s money.

As for the forensic accountant that testified on Zimmerman’s donations, the Judge ruled that:

Zimmerman’s bail was revoked last month after Lester learned Zimmerman and his wife had failed to disclose more than $150,000 in donations from the public.

Zimmerman, who says he shot unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in self-defense, could stay in jail until his eventual trial or could be released today although it was not immediately clear how long it would take Zimmerman to arrange his release. For now Zimmerman is ordered to remain in Seminole County.